NFL Player News

Mayer stood out while making his fair share of catches during Monday's practice, according to Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site.

Per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, Mayer still needs to improve on his blocking, but the 2023 second-rounder's pass-catching ability figures to lead to a role in the Raiders' offense from the get-go this season. With the team having traded Darren Waller to the Giants in March, there are TE snaps and targets available for both Mayer and free-agent addition Austin Hooper. While a timeshare figures to be in play early on, it's quite plausible that the rookie's fantasy utility increases as the campaign progresses.

Coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday that McBride is dealing with undisclosed "nicks and bruises," Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

Like wide receiver Marquise Brown (undisclosed), McBride has a health concern that is impacting his practice reps. With Zach Ertz currently on the active/PUP list as he continues his recovery from late November knee surgery, McBride is the Cardinals' No. 1 tight end, at least if he's healthy. Behind McBride, Noah Togiai and Geoff Swaim are the only TEs on the roster with NFL snaps on their resumes.

Smith was waived by the Colts on Tuesday.

Smith sighed with the Colts in May after being waived by the Giants due to a failed physical in March. He'll now have to look to find an opportunity elsewhere.

Akins (knee) is not practicing Tuesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Akins has been out of action since Friday while he tends to a knee injury, and it's not clear how much more time he may miss. Once healthy, the 31-year-old is expected to compete for a role behind projected starter David Njoku.

Henry has been QB Mac Jones' "go-to-guy in the red zone" during training camp, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

While Henry has some new competition for targets in the form of free-agent addition Mike Gesicki, the 28-year-old Henry has been making plays in training camp, especially around the end zone, per Mark Daniels of Masslive.com. Although the Patriots list Henry at 258 pounds, the tight end indicates that he approached this summer weighing somewhere around the high 240s, and it looks like he's playing faster, per Daniels. Though the presence of Gesicki figures to impact Henry's target volume, there figures to be room for both players to maintain a degree of fantasy utility, and in Henry's case that could be especially so in TD-friendly formats.

Pitts (knee) ran routes against defenders Monday for the first time this summer, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The Falcons are easing Pitts into training camp after last year's MCL injury, with coach Arthur Smith noting Monday that the tight end is on track with his "return to play" plan. Smith also suggested Pitts could take snaps this preseason, though it'll nonetheless be surprising if the 2021 first-round pick makes more than a token appearance in exhibition games. Concern regarding Pitts' fantasy prospects for 2023 has more to do with his lack of production last year before getting hurt than any doubt about his Week 1 status; at this point it seems he's healthy and the Falcons are just being cautious.

McDonald was waived by the Packers on Tuesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

McDonald joined Green Bay as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State in May. After starting camp on the non-football injury list, he did manage to pass a physical and get back out on the field Wednesday. However, he'll now have to work to find an opportunity elsewhere.

Keene signed with the Texans on Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

A third-round pick of the Patriots in the 2020 Draft, Keene never panned out in New England, catching three passes for 16 yards on five targets across six games as a rookie. He hasn't appeared in a regular-season contest since, bouncing around practice squads. Keene faces an uphill battle to make the Texans.

Schultz (ribs) exited Sunday's practice early, but coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that the tight end will "be back out there soon."

Schultz was banged up after taking a shot to the side from fellow free-agent pickup Jimmie Ward in practice. It sounds like the tight end is day-to-day, and it's not a long-term concern. Schultz is expected to compete for the team lead in targets after coming over from the Cowboys in the offseason.

Pinkey signed a contract with the Bears on Monday, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

Pinkey was waived by the Rams in March after appearing in four games with them in 2022. The 25-year-old will work to earn a depth role in Chicago's tight-end corps behind Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan.